Art. 701 Applicability

Once a child is taken out of their parents' care and placed with the state child welfare department during a "child in need of care" case, specific rules kick in to guide what happens next. These rules control how the child's case gets reviewed while they remain in the department's custody.

This review process stays in place the whole time the child is in state custody. It only stops once the child reaches a permanent living situation, such as being returned home, adopted, or placed with a relative on a long-term basis, as spelled out in Article 603.

In plain terms, this rule tells courts and caseworkers that they cannot just place a child in custody and move on. They must keep checking in on the child's situation regularly until the child has a stable, permanent home.